From: Jenna <jennasxffic@lycos.com>
Date: 29 Jun 2003 23:10:25 -0700
Subject: Liberation
Source: atxc

TITLE:            Liberation
AUTHOR:           Jenna (jennasxffic@lycos.com)
FEEDBACK:         Worshipped, adored and cuddled!
SPOILERS:         Closure
CATEGORY:         Angst; Mulder POV; Vignette
RATING:           PG
DISCLAIMER:       Fox/Carter/1013...lucky bums.
ARCHIVE:          Anywhere...let me know first.
SUMMARY:          The past gives way for the future.
AUTHOR'S NOTES:   Short, but sweet vignette written
                  for After-The-Fact Closure
                  challenge.  No beta...all 
                  mistakes are my own.
WEBSITE:          http://jennasxffic.tripod.com/

*****************************************************

Uncertainty clouds me as I feel the end of the road coming nearer with
each step I take down this foggy, yet well-lit path.  Reaching the
clearing, I am astounded at the sight of the same little boy that led
me to my sister's diary.  I follow him further down the path and I am
gifted with the ghostly apparitions with faces of innocence.  I
recognize Amber Lynn LaPierre along with so many other children who
have been saved from life's cruel fates that awaited them.

Someone is running my direction and I realize that it's Samantha.  She
hugs me tightly before pulling away, smiling and cradling my face in
both her hands.  She pushes back into my embrace and I stroke her
hair, and smile at the walk-ins who have surrounded us.  Suddenly
everyone has disappeared, including Samantha, and a slight mist forms
in my eyes.

I silently take in the scenery around me and stare up at the sky. One
star twinkles brightly for a brief second and fades away again.  That
star is Samantha and it's her way of telling me that she's now in the
past.  She's also telling me it's time to liberate myself from the
guilt which I have suffered since the day she was taken from my life. 
She has shown me in that short moment that it is time to walk back
down that path to my future.

Samantha has finally granted me something I've needed for so long. A
future with Scully with my past guilt forgotten.  However, I will
always remember Samantha and how she was stolen from my life as an one
of the innocent faces that now walk in starlight.  Only now, Scully
will be by my side to help me remember, and that's as it should be.

-The End-